A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

S

Saddle       Formation shaped like a saddle or anticline.

Safety fuse       A train of powder enclosed in cotton, jute yarn, or waterproofing compounds, which burns at a uniform rate; used for firing a cap containing the detonation compound which in turn sets off the explosive charge.

Safety lamp       A lamp with steel wire gauze covering every opening from the inside to the outside so as to prevent the passage of flame should explosive gas be encountered.

Salting       The act of introducing metals or minerals into a deposit or samples, resulting in false assays - done either by accident or with the intent of defrauding the public.

Sample       A small portion of rock or a mineral deposit, taken so that the metal content can be determined by assaying.

Sampling       Selecting a fractional but representative part of a mineral deposit for analysis.

Sandstone       A sedimentary rock consisting of quartz sand united by some cementing material, such as iron oxide or calcium carbonate.

Scaling       The act of removing loose slabs of rock from the back and walls of an underground opening, usually done with a hand-held scaling bar or with a boom-mounted scaling hammer.

Scaling       Removal of loose rock from the roof or walls. This work is dangerous and a long bar (called a scaling bar)is often used.

Scarp       An escarpment, cliff or steep slope along the margin of a plateau, mesa or terrace.

Schist       A foliated metamorphic rock the grains of which have a roughly parallel arrangement; generally developed by shearing.

Scintillation counter       An instrument used to detect and measure radioactivity by detecting gamma rays; more sensitive than a geiger counter.

Scooptram       A rubber tired-, battery- or diesel-powered piece of equipment designed for cleaning runways and hauling supplies.

Scrubber       Any of several forms of chemical/physical devices that remove sulfur compounds formed during coal combustion. These devices, technically know as flue gas desulfurization systems, combine the sulfur in gaseous emissions with another chemical medium to form inert "sludge," which must then be removed for disposal.

Seam       A stratum or bed of coal.

Secondary       An alteration of an original formation or deposit.

Secondary enrichment       Enrichment of a vein or mineral deposit by minerals that have been taken into solution from one part of the vein or adjacent rocks and redeposited in another.

Secondary roof       The roof strata immediately above the coalbed, requiring support during the excavating of coal.

Second-foot       A unit of water measure equal to one cubic foot per second, or 448.83 gallons per minute.

Section       A portion of the working area of a mine.